We are very interested in helpinghomeless animals find their "forever" homes.To this end, we offer FREE* pre-adoption counseling services to people who are interested in adopting a homeless pet from a rescue organization, or city, or county shelter.~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The plight of homeless animals should be of concern to us all.Although many people may choose to purchase a puppy from a reputable breeder, still others will open their homes to a dog in need of a second chance. There are so many wonderful animals who find themselves inneed of a new home as the result of circumstances whichare beyond anyone's control.

Of course there will always be those people who simply "opt out" of their responsibility toward their pets; those who get an animal without consideration for what is involved in caring for them, and then carelessly discard that same pet when the novelty wears off. But there are alsopeople who are forced to give up their beloved pet as aresult of unforeseen circumstances.

Whether because of an illness, or a negative turn of financial fortune, sometimes people find themselves unexpectedly without the means to take care of their perfectly wonderful pets. Most recently, with the downturn in our economy, there are a number of dogs and cats of all ages, some pure bred and some mixed, now languishing in shelters and rescues:the result of neither their own, nor their owner's misdeeds.These animals need homes.

Offering a second chance to a homeless animal can represent avery lucky break: certainly lucky for them, but also lucky for you.But when choosing to adopt a “second chance pet” it is important to make decisions with our heads rather than our hearts, otherwise we may be setting everyone up for further disappointment.

Our trainer can and will happily help you to choose wisely!

SO WHY WOULD YOU NEED PRE-ADOPTION COUNSELING WHEN ADOPTING A NEW PET?

Many people are inclined to adopt a dog merely by virtue of the way it looks. But if you were to choose ahuman partner in the same way, how likely would it be that you could form a lasting relationship?Relationships require some level of compatibility in order to last. Ultimately, finding someone whose personalityand core values are acceptable to you is more important to the long term success of a relationship than pleasing looks.

Choosing to live with a companion animal, is entering into a long term relationship.Although they do not live as long as a human being, bringing a pet into your home can be a 10 to 20 year commitment.This makes it equally important that you look further than skin deep when searching for that companion.And this is where we can help.Our Certified Professional Dog Trainer can put her years of experience and in depth knowledge of animals to work for you.

It's important that your expectations of your new friend be realistic. Kim can help you clarify and possibly adjust your expectations,so you won't end up disappointed with what you might be tempted to see as the "short-comings" of your new dog or cat.She can also help you identify the characteristics and traits that a new companion animal would need in order to fit most comfortablyinto your home. She'll make suggestions that may help you recognize those traits when evaluating a potential adoption candidate.When possible, Kim will even accompany you to the rescue or shelter to help you with the evaluation process.**

It can be tempting to simply take that dog or cat you feel sorry for. But taking an animal home, only to realize that they have problemsthat you aren't prepared to deal with, does nobody any favors...least of all, the pet. In order to make the best possible choice, you must use your head aswell as your heart when choosing the animal you will share your life with. Although all animals require an adjustment period and possibly even somebehavior modification in order to be the type of pet you would like them to be, finding a dog or cat whose core personality traitsare the most suitable to you can increase the likelihood of your long term success.

Kim will work to help you set things up for lasting success...and to help that dog or cat find their new "forever home" with you.Please contact us for more details.

*Depending upon the area, there may be a charge for mileage and travel time only. Time spent counseling and evaluating is free of charge.**Limited to trainer availability, and to specific service areas only.For assistance outside of standard mobile service areas, telephone and email consultations are available.